Everyday Solar Cooking

We’ll show you how to build a solar oven, so you can create savory meals while cooking without fuel.

A rhubarb pie and an apple tart are baked in two simple, handmade solar ovens.

By Philip Reynolds

Sophie Dufour, age 8, the author’s daughter, inspects one of the family’s solar ovens. This large model is on wheels and has collapsible reflectors for simple storage.

Photo by Joel Dufour

Joel Dufour, the author, removes a hot skillet from his mobile solar oven. On most solar ovens you must lift off the glass top to check on or remove food. A rear door makes this process a lot faster, and you lose less heat.

Photo by Joel Dufour

An All American Sun Oven, one of the most popular ovens on the market, can easily reach temperatures high enough to bake cookies.

Photo by Rusty Buggy Enterprises

The Solavore Sport bakes bread to golden perfection. Even better, the company, formerly Solar Oven Society, has a 20 year history of providing clean cooking-fuel alternatives to women all over the world.

Photo by David Radcliff/New Community Project

Roasting vegetables is not out of reach with a solar oven. The slow cooking time at a low heat creates deep and savory flavors.

Photo by Leon Werdinger

Delicias del Sol Villseca, a restaurant north of Santiago, Chile, turned to solar energy when deforestation depleted its fuel source. The restaurant’s fleet of solar ovens can feed up to 120 people every day.

Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

At MOTHER EARTH NEWS, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $12.00 (USA only).